What does it mean to be trustworthy?
Principal Chris Olson asked Lake Ripley Elementary School students that question during a recent assembly to kick off a new socio-emotional learning curriculum the school is embracing.
“Trustworthiness” is the first in a series of six topics that staff, social workers and students will delve into throughout this school year.
Socio-emotional learning was developed in 1994 to identify important skills and competencies students need to successfully navigate school and life. Research has found that students who participate in SEL programs feel better in school, report less anxiety, stress and depression. Students are also more connected and have better relationships with peers and teachers. More schools have been adopting SEL programs, especially after issues that came to light during the pandemic lockdown.
Throughout the year, Lake Ripley students will talk about the “Six Pillars of Character” developed by the CHARACTER COUNTS! organization. The focus will be on building students’ character and creating a positive school culture.
“The program as a whole will be integrated into our school day,” Olson said. “We are spending a month or so on each pillar. There will be an assembly once a month.
“The purpose is to build self-esteem and learn conflict resolution skills,” Olson added. “We will learn how to care and look out for each other.”
The other five character traits are Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Taking the first letter of each of the six traits — including Trustworthiness — creates the acronym TRRFCC, a reference to the word “terrific.”
“Our mantra will be ‘Let’s be terrific!’ Olson said. “Let’s make terrific choices! We will recognize students who identify each pillar’s behaviors. We will focus on positivity.”
Students will receive a postcard in the mail acknowledging something they’ve done well or someone they’ve been nice to throughout the year.
“Some kids need that boost,” Olson said. “What student won’t enjoy getting that post card in the mail? What parent won’t appreciate that it was sent to their child?
“For the staff and myself, it will feel good to write those postcards, too.” He added. “We hope this will create a foundation that everyone needs.”
Lake Ripley Elementary’s two social workers will be heavily involved in the program.
Litchfield School Board voted earlier this year to fund two social workers at each of the district’s schools. Tammy Minton has been at Lake Ripley Elementary for 17 years, while Ann Mahoney was hired this summer to fill the second, added position at the school. She previously spent 14 years at Dassel-Cokato High School.
“The greatest thing the community and school board did was allocate funds for a second social worker,” Minton shares. “What we will be able to face together is incredible.”
Teachers will be the ones having the intentional conversations with students regarding each pillar subject during the week, while social workers will visit classrooms twice a month to reinforce what has been learned about each topic. They will double their exposure to students in the classroom.
The social workers will also work with students referred them individually.
“We will problem-solve with the students,” Mahoney says. “We will show them that they belong, creating a safe space.”
“The greatest success through trauma is a safe, trusted relationship with an adult,” Minton added. “We hope to let them know they won’t have to deal with things alone. We will be giving them skills so they can work through tough things. “
“Through the Six Pillars construct, we hope to give students the ground work for when they have to deal with more difficult struggles in middle school and high school, Mahoney says. “We will work with students to build friendship skills.”
The goal of the Six Pillars of Character is to reinforce Dragon Pride, something Minton says has always been at the district. The program will expand upon that.
“The Dragon Pride expectation is to be the best of ourselves,” Minton said. “We will build those skills here through this program to develop the well-being of the whole child, not just focus on the academics.”
Just as fortified columns provide support for a building, holding it up through all kinds of conditions, the goal is for Six Pillars of Character to give Lake Ripley students skills to face life in a confident manner.
